matthew 19:23-26

Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly I tell you, it is hard for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”  When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, “Who then can be saved?” Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

To fully understand why Jesus says what he does about the rich man, you need to back up and read about the man. You can find the whole story starting in Matthew 19:16. Here's an overview:

A man approaches Jesus and asks him what it will take to have eternal life. The man says that he has followed the commandments and then Jesus tells him to go and sell his possessions and give to the poor. The man is unable to do so and walks away because he is wealthy. Then Jesus turns to the disciples and says today's passage.

What was it about the man's wealth that meant more to him then having eternal life? If you were the man and Jesus asked you to go sell your possessions and give to the poor could you?

Jesus compares the situation to a camel going through the eye of a needle. It's impossible for that to happen! According to Wikipedia the size of an average needle eye is under 1mm and an average adult camel is around 7 feet including the hump. That's quite a difference. But if you look back at the verse, Jesus doesn't say that it is impossible, he says it's easier for the camel. So the rich man could have eternal life, he just has to give up his love of money. And Jesus says that God can make possible.

Are you in love with money? Are you able to give 10% for God to use?  Do you need to ask God to make it possible for you to fully trust him?